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Trade unions protest ‘anti-worker’ measures

May 23, 2020, 05:00 IST

Ranchi: State wings of central trade unions on Friday staged demonstrations at several places against the alleged bid by some states to freeze labour laws, increase working hours from eight to 12 and the Centre’s proposal for commercial mining in the coal sector among others. Several union leaders gathered at Gandhi Sthal in Morhabadi Maidan here around 8am and raised slogans against the policies of the Centre and some of the state governments for about one-and-half hours. Speaking on the issue, All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) general secretary Subhendu Sen said, “The central government is burdening the workers on the pretext of the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown. Increasing working hours in some states amounts to repeating the history of workers’ exploitation.” State general secretary of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (Citu) Prakash Viplav said apart from opposing the policies, the trade unions are demanding free transportation of workers while returning home, payment of Rs 7,500 per month each for three months on their return and insurance for hygiene workers. He said all workers must be provided foodgrains at PDS rates. Viplav said workers from coal, iron and steel, transport, construction, heavy engineering and pharmaceutical sectors took part in the protests in different parts of the state. Besides, employees of banks, railways and insurance wore black badges and raised slogans during lunch hours, he added. Other leaders, including P K Ganguly of All India Trade Union Congress and Rakeshwar Pandey of Indian National Trade Union Congress also took part in the protest at Morhabadi ground. Similar protests were organised at the headquarters of Central Coalfields Limited and the Indian Institute of Coal Management here. The Jharkhand Rajya Kisan Sabha also held demonstrations at Rahe in the city.